Clean out plug assembly



Sept. 15, 1964 P. PANELLA CLEAN OUT PLUG ASSEMBLY Filed July 27, 1961 FIG. 2 l6 FIG. 4

FIG. 3

INVENTOR. Pau/ Pane/la ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,148,708 CLEAN OUT PLUG ASSEMBLY Paul Panella, 432 Academy Road, Catonsville 28, Md. Filed July 27, 1961, Ser. No. 127,352 6 Claims. (Cl. 138-89) This invention relates to a triple-duty clean out plug assembly wherein a single clean out plug device may be used for any one of three different standard sizes of clean out pipe.

Furthermore, it is an object of this invention to provide a triple-duty clean out plug assembly which may be used on the bald end of any one of three different standard sizes of clean out pipes, thereby eliminating the need for an integral bell mouth on a clean out pipe, and making it possible to use this plug on a clean out pipe which initially extends above grade, and thereafter to cut the clean out pipe to the permanent grade and use the same clean out plug as a permanent clean out plug on the clean out pipe at the permanent grade.

Thus, this invention provides a novel clean out plug useable in combination with the bald end of a clean out pipe of any one of three conventional sizes, both temporarily when the pipe is above grade, and permanently, after the pipe has been cut to the permanent grade, eliminating the need for digging down to the sewer pipe for resetting the grade, inasmuch as the bald end is used and the bell month end is eliminated, and, in addition, makes it possible for the plumber to eliminate the need for carrying three different sizes of the clean out plug for the three different standard sizes of clean out pipe.

A further object of this invention is to provide a tripleduty clean out plug which can be used both as an initial temporary clean out plug and later, as a permanent clean out plug, after the permanent grade is set, on the same clean out pipe having a bald end rather than the customary bell mouth end, and wherein the clean out pipe may be of the conventional small standard size having a four inch internal diameter, with the annular thickness of the pipe either of conventional medium thickness, or conventional extra heavy thickness, and likewise, may be used with a conventional large size standard clean out pipe having a six inch internal diameter.

Still a further object of this invention is to provide an improved clean out plug which may be installed as a temporary plug on the clean out pipe which extends above the permanent grade before the permanent grade is set, and then, may be installed as a permanent clean out plug by merely cutting off the clean out pipe to the desired permanent grade Without the need of digging out the permanent grade to the depth of the underground pipe as is customary with prior conventional methods and yet may be removed for clean out purposes at any time by merely pulling the plug oif the clean out pipe.

With the above and related objects in view, this invention consists in the details of construction and combination of parts, as will be more fully understood from the following description, when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 is an elevational view, partly in section, of the triple-duty clean out plug of this invention as applied to the bald end of a conventional standard small size clean out pipe.

FIG. 2 is a similar view of the same triple-duty clean out plug as applied on the bald end of a conventional standard large size clean out pipe.

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of this clean out plug.

FIG. 4 is a bottom plan view of this clean out plug, partly broken away and partly in section.

FIG. 5 shows annular sectional views through the two O-rings forming part of the clean out plug assembly of this invention.

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 1, but without a removable clean out plate.

There is shown at 16 the triple-duty clean out plug of this invention which, in conjunction with a small annular diameter O-ring 12 of A" annular diameter and a large annular diameter O-ring 14, of 7 annular diameter constitutes the triple-duty clean out plug assembly of this invention.

As shown by the illustration, the two O-rings 12 and 14 are not only of different annular thickness compared to each other and thus readily identifiable, but are further identifiable by the fact that one of the O-rings is of a different color than the other of the ()-rings, one of the O-rings 14 being red, for instance, and the other of the O-rings 12 being black.

These O-rings are made of neoprene material having fifteen hundred pounds per square inch tensile strength, and a hardness of 6070 Shore A, and an elongation of 400% minimum, and this material with these characteristics have been shown by tests to have the best overall resistance possible to aging, action of water and abrasive materials, exposure toweather, and has excellent sealing characteristics over indefinite periods of time.

The clean out plug 1% consists of a conventional clean out plate 16 used in combination, in a conventional manner, with the clean out plug ferrule 13 of this invention, the ferrule 18 being used in conjunction with one or the other of the G-rings 12 or 14, depending on whether the clean out plug assembly 10 is used in conjunction with a conventional standard small size clean out pipe 20, having the conventional four inch internal diameter, and of medium annular thickness as illustrated in FIG. 1. There is also illustrated in FIG. 1 by dash lines 22 a conventional standard small size clean out pipe, also of four inch internal diameter but having an extra heavy annular thickness, while at 24 in FIG. 2, this invention is illustrated in combination with a conventional standard large size clean out pipe having an internal diameter of six inches, and any desirable annular thickness.

The clean out plug ferrule 18, as shown, is made of cast iron or other suitable material, and consists of a cylindrical portion 26 having at the top end thereof an integral flat plate portion 30 providing a flange that extends both externally as at 28 and internally as at 31, the internal flange at 31 being threaded complementary to the threads 32 of the conventional clean out plate 16, the clean out plate 16 being provided with the usual wrench-cooperating hexagon 34 for installing and removing the plate 16.

The external flanges 28 is provided with two extending lugs or bosses 29 which are of less thickness than the flange 28 for cooperation with a spanner wrench for holding the same if necessary when applying a wrench to the clean out plate 16 on the hex 34, or for cooperation with a pulling tool for pulling the plug 10 off the end of the clean out pipe, as when shifting from temporary grade to permaent grade. The same pulling procedure may be followed at all times if desired, in which case, the threaded plate may be made an integral part of plate portion 30 such as illustrated at 30' in FIG. 6.

As usual, this internal threaded flange 31 has a minimum diameter at 36 that is at least slightly less than the external diameter of the smaller of the two conventional small size standard clean out pipes 20 and 22, but is greater than the internal diameter of the two small size conventional standard clean out pipes 20 and 22, such internal diameter being the same in both cases. Thus, the shoulder 36 acts to support the ferrule 18 on the top end of either conventional standard small size clean out pipes 20 or 22, yet provide completely unobstructed access to the clean out pipe.

The external diameter of the external flange 28 is at least slightly greater than the internal diameter of the conventional standard large size pipe, the six inch internal diameter large size pipe 24, and thus, when the ferrule 18 is used in conjunction with large size pipe 24-, it acts to support the plug assembly on the top end of the large size pipe 24.

The cylindrical portion 26 of the clean out ferrule 18 has an internal diameter slightly less than six inches, that is, slightly less than the internal diameter of the conventional large size standard clean out pipe 24, and provided in the lower end of the ferrule 18 is a circumferential semi-circular recess 38 for receiving the larger D-ring 14 therein. This O-ring 14, of neoprene and having the characteristics above set forth, is of substantially five inch diameter, and will readily stretch over the lower end of the ferrule 18 to be received into the recess 38 and cooperate therewith as shown in FIG. 2 for sealing the ferrule 18 either temporarily or permanently with the bald end of the large size standard six inch clean out pipe 24, as illustrated in FIG. 2.

Internally extending from the lower end of the ferrule 18 is an internal flange 4d, the internal diameter of this flange 40 being at least slightly greater than the external diameter of the conventional standard small size clean out pipe 22 of the larger, or extra heavy, annular thickness, as illustrated, thus enabling the ferrule 18 to be placed down over the top end of the extra heavy annular thickness four inch pipe 22 as well as the medium standard thickness four inch pipe 20.

Circumferentially extending into this flange 49 is a semi-circular recess 42 within which may be inserted either of the two O-rings 12 or 14. In FIG. 1, the O-ring 14 is in position, for the O-ring 14 of greater thickness is .used with the smaller of the four inch conventional small size clean out pipes 20. When the clean out ferrule 18 is used on top of a four inch conventional standard small size pipe 22 of extra-heavy annular thickness, the black O-ring 12 of the smaller annular diameter is placed in this recess 42 to cooperate with the clean out pipe 22.

In operation, the clean out pipe of either of the three standard sizes such as shown at 20, 22 or 24, is permanently connected underground in the usual manner, and is left extending above permanent grade as customary, until the permanent grade has been set. A bald end of the clean out pipe 20, 22 or 24 is left extending above grade rather than the conventional bell mouth end, then, depending on the size of clean out pipe 29, 22 or 24 is present, the ferrule 18 of this clean out plug is temporarily installed over the bald end of the above-grade portion of the clean outpipe, and the appropriate O-ring 12 or 14 is placed in its appropriate recess, as above described and the clean out ferrule 18 is pushed down over the bald end of the pipe until, in the case of pipe 20 or 22, the internal flange 36 abuts the top end of the bald end of the pipe or, in the case of the six inch pipe 24, the external flange 28 abuts the top end of the bald end of pipe 24. Then, the clean out plate 16 is installed in its usual manner by being threaded into the internal flange threads 39 by means of the wrench-cooperating hexagonal 34 and any conventional wrench. When the plate 16 is removed for clean out purposes, it will be apparent that an opening is provided through the clean out plate that is greater than four inches, that is, at least as great as or greater than the internal diameter of the two smaller clean out pipes.

Thereafter, when the permanent grade is set, instead of digging out the clean out pipe down to the underground pipe and installing a new section of clean out pipe to the proper grade, the same clean out pipe already in position is merely cut down to provide a new bald end at the proper grade. Then, in order to permanently install the clean out plug 10 at proper grade, the same procedure is followed as for a temporary installation-it is merely removed from the temporary position on the temporary 4.- grade, and installed in permanent position at the permanent grade.

In both cases, to facilitate its installation, the end of the pipe 20, 22 or 24, externally in the case of pipes 20 and 22, and internally in the case of the pipe 24, is lubricated with liquid or detergent soap or similar lubricant material, to facilitate pushing the ferrule with its appropriate O-ring down to proper position, thus providing a compression tit and sealed fit that is permanent, eliminating the need for any other type of sealing or joint connection between the ferrule 13 and the clean out pipe.

This eliminates the expense of both material and time of the conventional lead and oakum joints usually provided between a conventional clean out plug and a conventional clean out pipe, whether of the bell mouth type, or any other type. A readily removable and readily replaceable permanent clean out plug and connection is provided by this manner-permanent in the sense that it will remain indefinitely in place. However, should occasion ever arise that the ferrule must be removed, it can obviously be removed by applying sufficient tensile strength to the ferrule to pull it off the top of the pipe, if ever necessary. However, until it is deliberately and intentionally removed, it is a permanent connection of indefinite life.

Should the building code require a lead and oakum joint between the plug 18 and clean out pipe, such can be provided very easily in the permanent installation by leaving internal flange 36 of ferrule 18 spaced sufficiently above the top of the bald end of the clean out pipe to thus permit access to the space within ferrule cylindrical portion 26 above the lower internal flange 40. Oakum and hot lead may then be packed into the space 37 in the conventional manner to make the permanent joint coply with the building code when necessary.

Obviously, the separable clean out plate 16 is necessary only when the building code may require the possibility of a lead and oakum joint between the plug 18 and the clean out pipe as above described, for when the lead and oakum joint is not present or required, it is obviously also not necessary that the plate 16 be removable. In such case, as shown in FIG. 6, plug 18 includes the fiat plate portion 30 as an integral part of external flange 28 and cast or molded integrally therewith and of the same castiron material. Depending integrally from flat plate portion 39 is the cylindrical ferrule 26 having the O-ring recess 38' for receiving the O-ring 14' therein and for providing a permanent but removable sealing joint with the bald end of pipe 24'. The internal annular flange 46' with an internal O-ring recess and internal O-ring may also be present to enable the ring to be used either as an internal or as an external clean out plug, in the same manner as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. Obviously, if intended solely for internal use, or solely for external use, only a single O-ring recess need be present on the appropriate external or internal recess.

The operation of this form is identical with that as above described, the O-ring is lubricated as above to provide a temporary or a readily removable and readil replaceable permanent but separable sealing joint with the clean out pipe, for the flange 28 or lugs 29' cooperate with an appropriate tool for pulling the plug 18' off the end of clean out pipe 24'.

Although this invention has been-described in considerable detail, such description is intended as being illustrative rather than limiting, since the invention may be variously embodied, and the scope of the invention is to be determined as claimed.

Having thus set forth and disclosed the nature of this invention, what is claimed is:

1. A combination clean out plug comprising a threaded clean out plate and means for securing said clean out plug externally to the bald end of a four inch internal diameter clean out pipe of either standard or extra heavy annular thickness or internally to the bald end of a six inch internal diameter pipe of any annular thickness, said plug comprising a cylindrical ferrule having an external diameter less than six inches and an internal diameter substantially greater than four inches, one end of said ferrule having an internally extending threaded liange having an opening of a diameter not less than four inches and not greater than the external diameter of a medium thick four inch clean out pipe and also having an external extending flange of an external diameter of at least slightly greater than six inches, the external diameter of the other end of said ferrule having an internal diameter slightly greater than the external diameter of an extra heavy four inch clean out pipe, said ferrule having both an internal and an external O-ring receiving circumferential recess adjacent said other end, and a pair of readily identifiable neoprene O-rings, one O-ring being of A" annular thickness and the other ring being of 7 annular thickness, both said -rings being of a diameter to fit Within said internal O-ring recess, said Outing being stretchable to also fit said external O-ring recess, said 7 O-ring when in said external O-ring recess providing readily removable and readily replaceable permanent sealing means for said plug internally in a six inch clean out pipe, and when in said internal O-ring recess providing readily removable and readily replaceable permanent sealing means for said plug externally on a medium four inch clean out pipe, said A" O-ring providing readily removable and readily replaceable permanent sealing means for said plug externally on an extra-heavy four inch clean out pipe.

2. A combination clean out plug comprising a threaded clean out plate and means for securing said clean out plug externally to the bald end of a conventional standard small size clean out pipe of either standard or extra heavy annular thickness or internally to the bald end of a conventional standard large size internal diameter pipe of any annular thickness, said plug comprising a cylindrical ferrule having an external diameter less than internal diameter of the conventional standard large size pine and an internal diameter substantially greater than the internal diameter of the conventional standard small size pipe, one end of said ferrule having an internally extending threaded flange having an opening of a diameter not less than the internal diameter of the small size pipe and not greater than the external diameter of the small size pipe and also having an external extending flange of an external diameter of at least slightly greater than the internal diameter of the large size pipe, the external diameter of the other end of said ferrule having an internal diameter slightly greater than the external diameter of an extra heavy small size clean out pipe, said ferrule having both an internal and an external O-ring receiving circunn ferential recess adjacent said other end, and a pair of readily identifiable neoprene O-rings, one O-ringbeing of an annular thickness slightly less than that of the other ring, both said O-rings being of a diameter to fit within said internal O-ring recess, said larger O-ring being stretchable to also fit said external O-ring, recess, said larger O-ring when in said external O-ring recess providing readily removable and readily replaceable permanent sealing means for said plug internally in the large size clean out pipe, and When in said internal (Iv-ring recess providing readily removable and readily replaceable permanent sealing means for said plug externally on a medium small size clean out pipe, said smaller O-ring providing readily removable and readily replaceable permanent sealing means for said plug externally on an extra-heavy small size clean out pipe.

3. The combination of claim 2, said internal O-ring recess being located in an internally extending flange on said ferrule, thereby providing additional sealing means receiving space thereabove.

4. A combination clean out plug and means for securing said clean out plug to any one of three dififerent size bald end clean out pipes, said clean out plug comprising a cylindrical ferrule, said cylindrical ferrule having an external diameter to fit within a bald end of a large standard size clean out pipe, an external flange on one end of said ferrule to fit over and abut the end of said large standard size clean out pipe, said ferrule having an external circumferential O-ring receiving recess adjacent its other end, said ferrule having an internal diameter to fit over a bald end ofa small standard size clean out pipe and also of slightly smaller standard size clean out pipe, said cylindrical ferrule having an internal circumferential O-ring receiving recess adjacent said other end, and a pair of O-rings of elastic and compressible material, one O-ring being of greater annular thickness than the other, said greater thickness O-ringfitting in said external O-ring recess to provide a readily removable and readily replaceable permanent sealing means between said ferrule and the large standard size clean out pipe and fitting in said internal O-ring recess to provide a readily removable and readily replaceable permanent sealing means between said ferrule and said smaller standard size clean out pipe, said O-ring of lesser thickness fitting said internal O-ring recess to provide readily removable and readily replaceable permanent sealing means between said ferrule and said small standard size clean out pipe.

5. The combination of claim 4, said internal 0-ring recess being located in an internally extending flange on said ferrule, thereby providing additional sealing means receiving space thereabove.

6. The combination of claim 4, and pulling tool cooperating lugs extending from said external flange, the bottom surface of said lugs being spaced from the bottom surface of said external flange. 1

Referenees Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Great Britain Apr. 21, 1954 

4. A COMBINATION CLEAN OUT PLUG AND MEANS FOR SECURING SAID CLEAN OUT PLUG TO ANY ONE OF THREE DIFFERENT SIZE BALD END CLEAN OUT PIPES, SAID CLEAN OUT PLUG COMPRISING A CYLINDRICAL FERRULE, SAID CYLINDRICAL FERRULE HAVING AN EXTERNAL DIAMETER TO FIT WITHIN A BALD END OF A LARGE STANDARD SIZE CLEAN OUT PIPE, AN EXTERNAL FLANGE ON ONE END OF SAID FERRULE TO FIT OVER AND ABUT THE END OF SAID LARGE STANDARD SIZE CLEAN OUT PIPE, SAID FERRULE HAVING AN EXTERNAL CIRCUMFERENTIAL O-RING RECEIVING RECESS ADJACENT ITS OTHER END, SAID FERRULE HAVING AN INTERNAL DIAMETER TO FIT OVER A BALD END OF A SMALL STANDARD SIZE CLEAN OUT PIPE AND ALSO OF SLIGHTLY SMALLER STANDARD SIZE CLEAN OUT PIPE, SAID CYLINDRICAL FERRULE HAVING AN INTERNAL CIRCUMFERENTIAL O-RING RECEIVING RECESS ADJACENT SAID OTHER END, AND A PAIR OF O-RINGS OF ELASTIC AND COMPRESSIBLE MATERIAL, ONE O-RING BEING OF GREATER ANNULAR THICKNESS THAN THE OTHER, SAID GREATER THICKNESS O-RING FITTING IN SAID EXTERNAL O-RING RECESS TO PROVIDE A READILY REMOVABLE AND READILY REPLACEABLE PERMANENT SEALING MEANS BETWEEN SAID FERRULE AND THE LARGE STANDARD SIZE CLEAN OUT PIPE AND FITTING IN SAID INTERNAL O-RING RECESS TO PROVIDE A READILY REMOVABLE AND READILY REPLACEABLE PERMANENT SEALING MEANS BETWEEN SAID FERRULE AND SAID SMALLER STANDARD SIZE CLEAN OUT PIPE, SAID O-RING OF LESSER THICKNESS FITTING SAID INTERNAL O-RING RECESS TO PROVIDE READILY REMOVABLE AND READILY REPLACEABLE PERMANENT SEALING MEANS BETWEEN SAID FERRULE AND SAID SMALL STANDARD SIZE CLEAN OUT PIPE. 